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most holy trinity catholic school parent handbook 2011-2012 school year as one family committed to christ we are called to learn love and lead 0

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the history of most holy trinity catholic school monsignor neil mchugh founding pastor of the parish established most holy trinity catholic school in 1953 the school was originally staffed by the sisters of notre dame since 1976 most holy trinity catholic school has been staffed by an all lay faculty and principal most holy trinity catholic school is a member of the national catholic education association n.c.e.a the association for supervision and curriculum development a.s.c.d and the international reading association in 1989 most holy trinity catholic school received full membership in both the north central association n.c.a and the western catholic educators association w.c.e.a with full accreditation status in 1996 2003 and 2009 most holy trinity catholic school was re-accredited for six years an ever-increasing 12,000-volume library provides research opportunities an array of 4,000 plus volumes of the finest up-to-date children s literature has recently been added and during the summer of 2003 the library was fully automated a computer room was established in september of 1985 at the present time it is equipped with 30 ibm computers a printer a network system and software all classrooms are equipped with computers to immediately aid instruction all students in grades k-8 participate in the computer education program spanish is the foreign language taught at most holy trinity catholic school students in fourth through eighth grade receive instruction most holy trinity catholic school is a member of the catholic youth athletics c.y.a a sports organization for catholic elementary schools this is an excellent after-school program for students in the upper grades an extended care program was inaugurated during the 1990-91 school year the pre-school program begun in 1990 was made a part of the total school program beginning with the 1992-93 school year 1

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diocese of phoenix philosophy of catholic education we believe that the child is a unique creation matter and spirit with an eternal destiny it is the responsibility of the parent as primary educator to assist the child in achieving his/her purpose in life the school shares this responsibility through its program of formal education the parents and school work together to help the child achieve self-realization self-acceptance and awareness of their duty toward god and humanity to this end most holy trinity catholic school presents to its students the fundamental aspects of growth in all areas spiritual intellectual cultural social and physical it is our aim to assist the students in acquiring an approach to living in a changing world that will be christian throughout the year our religious curriculum and liturgical activities endeavor to prepare the students to accept the challenge of life and to acquire attitudes and values that are essential in the life of a conscientious and mature christian vision statement most holy trinity catholic school is a community centered around the eucharist dedicated to educating our children fundamental to this education is the commitment of our staff and families in partnership to the value system of our roman catholic faith this commitment finds expression in our words and deeds mission statement most holy trinity catholic school as one family committed to christ we are called to learn love and lead philosophy most holy trinity catholic school in partnership with the family supports the spiritual academic and moral development of students founded upon the values and traditions of our roman catholic faith the school strives for academic excellence through a variety of teaching strategies that seek to meet the individual needs and capabilities of the students through the course of their education the students recognize their role in the community and their responsibility to give of themselves in service to others the students are presented ample opportunities to experience and participate in all aspects of the roman catholic faith 2

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general information accreditation most holy trinity catholic school is accredited by the western catholic educational association admission policies in order to register a child at most holy trinity catholic school a certified/original copy of their birth certificate their original baptismal certificate and their current immunization record is required final consideration for all grades will be based on a grade readiness assessment pre-school students must be 3 years old and toilet-trained kindergartners must be 5 years old before september 1st and first graders must be 6 years old before september 1st age requirements are strictly enforced students in first through eighth grades are required to submit their most current report card and standardized test scores possible contact with the previous school may be required for grades six through eight an interview with the principal may be required to be considered for admission a letter of recommendation from the student s present principal a letter of recommendation from a current teacher in addition to the student s most current report card/test scores and copies of any psycho-educational testing iep 504 plans are required for the interview all students admitted to most holy trinity catholic school will have a three-month probationary period all new students are expected to do their best academically and to conform to the school rules and regulations most holy trinity catholic school does not discriminate on the basis of race sex national origin age and/or physical handicap as long as accommodation can be made for the student s benefit school hours the school day begins at 7:55 a.m with morning prayer and ends at 3:15 p.m every friday is an early dismissal day at 1:30 pm students are not to arrive at school before 7:30 a.m unless they are being checked into tigers den extended care the school and the parish do not assume liability for supervision of or injuries to any person in or on the church or school premises before 7:30 a.m and after 3:30 p.m on school days or at any time on weekends or holidays students who are participating in school activities will be supervised by the adult in charge any child on church or school premises at unauthorized times will be place in tigers den extended care and the parents will be charged accordingly for the service security after 8:15 a.m parents and visitors must report and sign-in at the school office and wear a school visitor badge when on campus you must sign out and return the badge when leaving the campus parents must in no way disrupt classrooms after school has begun parents are asked to use the front gate only when entering and leaving campus during the school day parents should use the appropriate gate as noted in the drop-off pick-up section of this handbook during drop-off or pickup 3

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attendance regular attendance is an essential element for academic excellence frequent absence from school affects academic performance when planning appointments family outings and vacations consult the school calendar whenever possible schedule doctor/dentist appointments before or after school or on free days vacations and days taken for activities not sponsored by the school or the diocese of phoenix are considered absences and recorded as such a student must be in class for at least half of the academic time to be counted present parents must bring in a doctors note if the student has been absent 5 school days or more teachers will not give assignments prior to an absence excessive absences may be cause for denying promotion in case of illness these procedures should be followed 1 a call to the school office to inform the staff of the child s illness 602-943-9058 should be made before 8:30 a.m when a student returns to school a written note from parent/guardian stating the date and the reason for the absence must be presented to the teacher 2 a student will not be dismissed during school time without a written request from a parent this request must be presented to the teacher a student who has permission to leave during school time will be called to the school office upon the arrival of the parent the parent must sign the release register when leaving with a child 3 families leaving for extended periods must notify the school office in writing in advance of the dates of an absence parents who are leaving and placing their children in the care of another adult must inform the school office in writing of this temporary assignment of guardianship tardiness tardiness is a disruption at the beginning of the school day which takes precious time away from a classroom of children while the teacher deals with correcting roll call and class meetings while an occasional tardiness is understandable repeated tardiness may result in the student attending summer school excessive unexcused tardiness will result in an office referral 1 2 3 a student is considered tardy if he/she is not with the class/teacher by 7:55 a.m bell students arriving with the class after 7:55 a.m must have a tardy slip six tardies will be counted as one day absent and incur the consequence of a lunch table cleanup duty in lieu of lunch recess dismissal early and regular 1 parents picking up a healthy student for an early dismissal must come to the school office the student will be dismissed from the class when called via the phone system parents are not to go to the classroom to pick up students please remember to bring identification with you when signing out a student so we can verify you are an authorized individual to pick up the child this procedure is required in order to insure our children s safety which is a number one priority at mht if you receive a call from school personnel to pick up a sick child you will sign the child out at the school office 2 if the usual person who picks up your child changes please notify the homeroom teacher in writing 4

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3 identification is required from any adult whom we do not recognize who comes to pick up a child we reserve the right not to release the child to anyone other than the custodial parent in cases of doubt we will phone the custodial parent to confirm that another person has been authorized to pick up the child please see that individuals authorized to pickup students are listed on the emergency card 4 children must be picked up promptly at 1:30 pm or 12:05 p.m on early dismissal days and at 3:15 p.m on full days early dismissal days school will be dismissed at 1:30 pm every friday for faculty meetings tigers den extended care provides after school child care after regular school hours and on early dismissal days until 6:00 p.m we encourage parents to place their children in this program if they cannot pick them up immediately after school there is no tiger dens extended care on days that school is not in-session morning student drop off procedures please follow the procedures distributed the first week of school do not park in the faculty/staff parking area drop off students at the science lab gate please do not enter the classrooms before the 7:45 a.m bell as the teachers need this time to prepare for the day s activities 7:30 7:50 7:55 students enter campus and gather at the picnic or quad area tables they should be seated bell rings ­ signal for teachers to gather their students at the picnic tables in a line bell rings walk in a line to the outdoor education center for morning assembly students not with their class are considered tardy tardy students are to go directly to the school office to get a tardy slip if a faculty member is not at the science lab gate to provide one morning prayer begins students who join the class now need to have a tardy slip in hand 8:00 students are not to arrive on school and/or church premises including mchugh hall before 7:30 a.m unless being checked into tigers den extended care or are accompanied by their parent/guardian afternoon student pick up procedures please follow the dismissal procedures distributed the first week of school do not park in the faculty /staff parking area or the fire lane to pick up your student at dismissal vehicles should enter the south entrance of mht church and proceed around the back of the church pulling up to the science lab school gate a school staff member will be releasing students to the appropriate vehicles please make sure to place your family name card in the front window of your vehicle if you wish to walk-in to pick up your student please park in the parish parking lot enter through the youth center gate and proceed to the class line up area to sign out your student please be advised that there will not be a crossing guard at the alice avenue crosswalk between mchugh hall and the school if you wish to speak with the teacher please schedule an appointment with them at the school office or contact them via email at dismissal teachers need to have all their attention focused on getting students picked up safely and expediently 5

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miscellaneous students who use the city bus system ride bikes or walk will be dismissed from the science lab gate a written note must be on file in the school office and with the homeroom teacher giving the student permission parents are not allowed to walk in thru the south parish parking lot gate our goal is an efficient dismissal that is safe tigers den extended care program most holy trinity catholic school offers tigers den an extended care program for those families who have students attending our school the program is designed to complement the philosophy of the school and support family values we are committed to providing quality care in a loving christian environment tigers den provides professional care supervision recreation and enrichment activities a high quality program that includes leisure activities such as arts and crafts indoor and outdoor games music and literature in addition to homework time and homework assistance are provided to its participants the program is intended to foster the students spiritual emotional social and physical development in a safe secure and stable atmosphere that allows parents to feel confident that their students are receiving quality care all school policies apply to the tigers den program concerns may be addressed with parents if behaviors not suited to a christian environment are expressed snacks a nutritious snack will be served daily consisting of fruit vegetables crackers or another nutritious snack in addition to milk juice or water students who are hungry beyond what the program provides are encouraged to bring an extra snack from home to supplement the afternoon snack candy is not an acceptable snack and should not be sent to tigers den on early dismissal days students must bring a sack lunch occasionally a special lunch may be offered at a small cost in accordance with health department requirements only store bought snacks can be brought by your child to share with other children please check with the caregivers before sending a special snack to share with all children in the program do not send candy to tigers den schedule of operation tigers den is available on school days only tigers den will not be offered on the last day of the school year hours 7:00 a.m 7:45 a.m on all school days 3:15 p.m 6:00 p.m on regular dismissal days 1:30 p.m ­ 6:00 p.m on early dismissal fridays 12:05 p.m 6:00 p.m on early dismissal days this program is geared for regular daily participants but drop-ins will be accommodated parents are required to give 24 hours advance notice for drop-ins to insure space availability for each student 6

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sign in and sign out procedures each child is to be signed in and out of tigers den the parent or authorized person legibly signs the child in for the morning session and out from the afternoon session tigers den caregivers will legibly sign the child out from the morning session and send the child directly to his/her classroom in the afternoon the tigers den caregivers will legibly sign the child in when he/she is dismissed from the classroom only authorized persons on the personal data form and/or sign out card will be allowed to remove a child from the premises any changes or special permission must be immediately given to tigers den or the school office in writing tigers den reserves the right to check identification of persons picking up children from the program fees a non-refundable $25.00 registration fee per family is required to enroll registration for the program is requested at the time of school registration in order to insure space availability for your students when registering for the program a copy of the fee schedule will be given to the family parents will be charged a late fee of $2.00 per minute per child when students are picked up after 6:00 p.m according to the classroom clock drop-in rate is $15.00 per student on regular dismissal days and $25.00 per student on early dismissal days breakfast/lunch program the lunch program will begin approximately the second ­ third week of school students may not go home for lunch or to any of the restaurants in the area students may bring their own lunch from home or purchase a lunch from our food service provider if a student brings their own lunch please realize we cannot refrigerate the food so make sure to place an ice pack in the students lunchboxes microwaves are not available to students soda pop and candy are not allowed students may not bring glass containers in their lunch at lunch there is a no food trading or sharing policy many of our students have food allergies or other conditions if a student forgets lunch alternate arrangements can be made in the office lunch tickets may be purchased in the school office students eat with their class under teacher supervision a breakfast café is offered by a parish ministry from 7:30am ­ 7:50am from the youth center kitchen gum gum is not allowed on school or church grounds students in violation will receive a mark on the responsibility card an action plan or office referral cell phones if a student brings a cell phone and/or an electronic device to school the phone and/or electronic device must be taken to the school office students are advised to leave all electronic devices at home the student may pick up the phone at 3:15 if a phone and/or electronic device are found with a student it will need to be picked up from the office by a parent if this happens a second time the phone will be kept for the remainder of the week and may be picked up from the office by a parent on friday if a phone is found with a student a third time consequences will be determined by the principal 7

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school phones the school phone should be used for school business it should not be used during classroom teaching times parents calling during the school day will be directed to voice mail the office will ring into a classroom in case of an emergency students may only use the school phone in case of emergency not be used to arrange last minute activities pets and other animals pets may be brought to the classroom by an adult for educational purposes only written permission must be received from the teacher and principal dogs or other pets at dismissal time are prohibited birthday parties on your child s birthday he/she may bring small store bought treats for the entire class treats should be discussed with the teacher prior to the child s birthday treats must be easily distributed and follow the guidelines of the national school wellness policy no lunches for the entire class ask the teacher if there are any foods to avoid for students with food allergies or other conditions party invitations may only be handed out at school if the entire class roster is invited or all girls all boys otherwise parents/guardians should use the school directory and mail invitations asbestos statement the environmental protection agency requires all schools to inspect their buildings and facilities and to identify sample and analyze all friable and non-friable building materials that may contain asbestos friable materials are defined as those that can be easily crumbled by hand the asbestos in schools rule and the asbestos hazard emergency response act regulation further require that all parents teachers and employees of schools be notified where asbestos is found this requirement is part of an inspection and management plan that is on file at our school the asbestos office of the diocese of phoenix has conducted an inspection of our entire school facility any friable asbestos containing material that has been found to be damaged has been repaired or removed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the united states environmental protection agency the nonfriable asbestos containing material will be maintained as it is and be re-inspected visually every six months for any physical damage repair and removal are done by contractors experienced and certified in this type of work after repair or removal an extensive survey is completed to ensure that all the school areas are safe and free of asbestos fibers addendum the principal of most holy trinity catholic school reserves the right to amend this handbook or waive a disciplinary regulation at his/her discretion 8

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academic programs the curriculum at most holy trinity catholic school presents the fundamental aspects of growth in all areas spiritual intellectual cultural social and physical as god is present in all aspects of our lives so also christian values extends to all areas of our curriculum the faculty strives to uphold these values by modeling them in our own lives and by presenting students opportunities for growth most holy trinity students are active participants in a mass at least once a week and receive daily religious instruction our academic program follows diocesan and state guidelines our core curriculum includes reading mathematics english social studies science and spelling/vocabulary skills reading in the primary grades is the phonetic approach we teach all students computers music art and we employ a physical education teacher and computer teacher spanish is taught to grades 4 through 8 the middle school curriculum operates a traditional departmental structure for mathematics language arts science and social studies student learning expectations · faith follower students who are life-long followers of christ who strive to live the life he did by respecting god self and others · active learner students who are actively engaged in the learning/educational process · effective communicator students who use polite manners in everyday situations and work cooperatively with others using verbal and nonverbal and artistic forms of communication · problem solver students who use a variety of methods to define analyze and solve problems in challenging situations whether educational or social in a systematic and respectful way · responsible citizen students who use responsible behavior apply discipline with purpose skills take responsibility for their own action and understand the basic civic responsibilities of self demonstrating respect and tolerance for others as they strive to influence their community and environment in positive ways liturgy the eucharist is an essential aspect of the regular school program students plan and participate in mass on fridays and special occasions morning prayer the school day begins at 7:55 a.m as a community asking god s blessings for the day parents are encouraged and welcome to stay for morning prayer 9

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library each class in grades k-8 is scheduled per homeroom schedule to come to the library once a week for checkout students return their books to the class library basket any time prior to their next scheduled library day or on the due date stamped on the return slip after an absence students should return their library books on the first day they return to school with notice of number of days absent to avoid being charged an overdue fine this is the responsibility of the student late books are not returned to the class basket late books must be returned to the library s mailbox in the office or to the late basket in the library this can be done any day before during or after school please help your child become a responsible citizen by encouraging him/her to take good care of books return them on time and pay late charges when they are due overdue books carry a ten-cent per book per day fine for days that the library is open with a maximum of a $1.00 fine per book when more than ten days late fines should accompany the book along with the reminder slip and be placed in a sealed envelope with the child s name and class clearly labeled please do not tape fines to book covers as this damages them library books may not be out over holiday recess in the event this happens a fine will be assessed students are instructed to report any damage to books immediately to their teacher please do not attempt to repair books at home we have special supplies that are used for repair of books damage not deemed normal wear and tear will carry a fine lost/damaged library books must be paid for and all overdue fines paid before a student can be granted check-out privileges again or given his/her report card refunds will be made on library books lost and paid for when books are returned to the library in good condition minus a $1.00 late fee per book the library must be notified before a pupil moves away or transfers from most holy trinity physical education p.e classes are a part of the regular curriculum students in proper attire are expected to attend p.e classes as other classes in the curriculum a mark on the students responsibility card grades 4-8 and p.e grades may be lowered if a student does not wear the proper attire a student may be excused 1 from classes because of a temporary illness if a note is sent by the parents this note should explain the nature of the illness if more than three 3 classes are to be missed a doctor s written excuse is required students restricted from p.e may not participate in after school sports or recess on that day 2 from classes because of illness or physical impairment a note from a doctor must be on file in the school office before a child can be excused and the duration of non-participation must be stated 3 from a particular exercise or activity because of illness or physical defect a note if temporary 3 classes from the parents must state exercise or activity to be excused from and if permanent more than 3 classes the note must have a doctor s signature stating type of exercise or activity to be excused from and the duration 10

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student internet use policy we are pleased to offer students of most holy trinity catholic school access to the internet for email and information searches to gain access to the internet all students must obtain parental permission the computer teacher will pass out and collect consent forms which students must sign and return to the computer lab access to e-mail and the internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries databases and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with internet users throughout the world families should be warned that some material accessible via the internet might contain items that are illegal defamatory inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people currently the system is equipped with a filter to block inappropriate websites as much as possible we believe that the benefits to students from access to the internet in the form of information resource and opportunities for collaboration exceed any disadvantages ultimately parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources to that end mht catholic school supports and respects each family s right to decide whether or not to apply for access the following board-approved guidelines will govern our use of the internet · students will communicate with keypals only under the direction of the teacher · teachers will guide students toward appropriate materials · access to the school internet account will only be available at school during regular school hours · students are expected to use appropriate netiquette at school and at home all activity deemed unacceptable inappropriate or illegal by most holy trinity is prohibited · plagiarism of any electronic document is not acceptable · students will have initial access only to teacher approved links · information will only be gathered from the internet not posted to the internet · the use of the internet for non-school related activities is not acceptable · gaining unauthorized access to resources or entities is not acceptable · use appropriate language at school and at home · harassing insulting or attacking others is prohibited · damaging computers computer systems or networks is prohibited · downloading or installing any commercial software shareware or freeware onto computers network drives or disks including personal cd s is prohibited · students will also follow all school rules and policies as stated in the student/parent handbook when using the internet access · never give the address phone number or last name of yourself or other students · always use the internet under the supervision of a teacher or other school staff person · keep your password secure do not share your password with others do not allow others to use your account do not use other people s password or account · help others be responsible citizens if you see anything or anyone that does not follow these rules immediately tell the teacher or other adult who is supervising you · no contacting or receiving contact from teachers via personal communication tools including but not limited to computer phone cell phone instant messaging e-mail or social networking site · photographing minors while at school or in catechetical programs is not allowed without the proper parental/guardian consent 11

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any conduct both in and out of school that reflects negatively upon the reputation of the school may be subject to disciplinary action the school reserves the right to discipline a student for actions committed off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well-being of a student in school engagement in online social networking web sites or blogs but not limited to myspace® facebook® xanga® friendster® twitter® etc may result in disciplinary actions if the content posted in these sites include any defamatory comments regarding the school the faculty other students or the parish bullying and cyber bullying are verbal or written threats made against the physical or emotional wellbeing of any individual students making such threats seriously or in jest or online face detention suspension and/or expulsion the students are expected to exercise responsible behavior when on the internet violating the above guidelines will result in losing your internet privileges serious violations will be reported to the principal for review and may also result in further disciplinary action which may include suspension or required withdrawal homework both parents and teachers realize that one of the basic skills a child must acquire is the ability to study homework is a regular part of instruction incomplete work can indicate failure in a subject and as such is a serious matter parents and teachers should work cooperatively to help each student be successful and responsible daily homework assignments have suggested guidelines as follows · k 2 up to 30 minutes · 3-4 up to 1.5 hour · 5-6 up to 2 hours · 7-8 up to 2.5 hours homework is an essential part of the most holy trinity academic program a reasonable amount of homework according to grade level is assigned every day it is always due when required by the teacher a deduction in points may be made for late assignments any request for an exception must be made in writing to the teacher by the parent students are responsible for recording assignments in their agendas and parents are encouraged to review them nightly all students are asked to read a minimum of thirty minutes a day this is necessary to establish good reading habits and strengthen the skills developed daily at school first grade students should begin this habit as they begin to read it is important that you the parent provide a proper study atmosphere at a regularly scheduled time each day weekend homework may include finishing an assignment that is due or working on a long-range assignment only no new assignments will be given for the weekend so that this can be quality family time students need to remember to bring their books and homework assignments with them at dismissal once the teacher has left the campus no one will be allowed into the classroom to get forgotten assignments and books 12

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absentee homework assignments if you wish to pick up assignments for an absent student call the health office before 8:30 a.m parents are asked to allow adequate notice for preparation of homework materials the school will make arrangements for the parent to pick them up in the office at dismissal students upon return to school after an absence will have two days to complete assignments for each day absent if a student returns on the day of a known assessment the student will be required to complete the assessment teachers will not give assignments prior to an absence make up work students are given time to make up work missed because of absences the number of days allowed to make up work is 2 days for every day absent it is the student s responsibility to turn the work in no later than 2 days after his/her absence vacation work students are discouraged form taking vacations during school time the teacher will not give work before the student leaves any exceptions will need to be in consultation with the principal before assignments are given in advance 13

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promotion/retention a student is promoted upon successful completion of the academic program students who have not successfully completed the academic program will be placed or retained after consultation with parents teachers and principal when making an appraisal of the student s academic program all parties will also consider the social emotional and physical development of the student which in some cases should be given preference over academic performance report cards the purpose of the report card is to report student progress it is important to understand that grades are reported from averages of work presented to teachers and class participation one report card will be issued per child if a second report card is needed the second report card will be a paper copy a conference is scheduled with each family at the end of the first quarter report cards are given at the end of each quarter for grades 2 through 8 with mid-quarter progress reports being sent home for each quarter for grade 2 only grades 3 ­ 8 will receive online grades weekly report cards are given at the end of the second third and fourth quarters only for kindergarten and first grade mid-quarter progress reports are sent home for the second third and fourth quarters only grading most holy trinity catholic school uses the following diocesan mandated grading system grade a 100 94 excellent grade b 93 85 very good grade c 84 75 average grade d 74 65 below average minimum requirement to pass grade f below 65 failure s satisfactory progress grades are a b c n student needs improvement grades are d u unsatisfactory grades are f these grades are not given a or principal s honor roll the principal s honor roll is an opportunity for students in grades 5-8 to be recognized these students demonstrate commitment to their education at the highest levels of performance in every area of the school program students are encouraged to grow in their academic performance while working to the best of their abilities all subject and behavioral areas are included in the criteria for honor roll 14

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